First Pakistani to be appointed as Cardinal by pope: Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro

Joseph Marie Anthony Cordeiro was born on 19th of January 1918, in Bombay, British India. He was the first Pakistani cardinal. His parents Dr. Peter and Elvine Cordeiro were of Goan origin who got settled in Bombay.

He received his education at St Patrick’s High School, Karachi, and later from the University of Bombay and Oxford University. However, he received his religious training at the Papal Seminary in Kandy, Sri Lanka. He was ordained a priest in Karachi, Pakistan on 24 August 1946.

He also served as Vice Principal of St Patrick’s High School and later in 1952 he served as principal of St Francis Grammar School in Quetta and as rector of the St. Pius X Minor Seminary in Quetta.

In, 1958 he was appointed Archbishop of Karachi, He was the first Pakistani ever to be appointed as cardinal, by Pope Paul VI on 5 March 1973. Cardinal Cordeiro died on 11 February 1994 at Holy Family Hospital due to cancer.